Random Blog

Sorry I've not blogged since the big day on Sunday. I've been a wee bit sick and really don't have time right now but am going to try to squeeze in a blog to give you a quick update.

Julie decided that - while she was clear headed and before she got depressed again - she was going to go into the hospital and get into a 30-day treatment program. This program is going to try to teach her some new coping skills.

I'm still VERY happy that God has shown up in her life in a big way. I hope that she continues to walk with Him and that she takes little steps in the right direction every day. I was simply blown away by her blog comment after my last blog. For Julie to admit her prior wrong-doing and then admit that Chris and I care for these kids as if they were alone were enough to bring me to tears. Then when she said that God has a plan for her.... well, that was a true miracle. Those of us who know Julie know that Julie hasn't really felt her life really had ANY calling other than raising her kids.

****************************

Singing this last weekend at church was SO much fun. I sang with two other girls and it just - rocked. This weekend we are sing on praise team and Chris and I are singing back up harmonies with this one guy doing a solo. I really really really miss singing Barbershop.

I've had a feeling now for a couple weeks that it's time to give it a try again. That.... it's time to go back to Toast of Tampa. Time to do this 'for me'. Chorus is SO MUCH FUN for me. I get unbelievable amount of enjoyment out of it... and it fills this big place in my heart. Singing on the praise team at church is really doing a good job of filling a lot of that, but it's just different.

We'll see if and when I can do it. The chorus, Toast of Tampa, is off until January. Maybe then I can go back and give it a good-hearted try then. The new director there is much more family-oriented which is a HUGE difference now. Maybe that is what makes me think it's so much different for me now. I dunno. I just feel it now. We'll see.

****************************

Kayte and Kayla walked in from school the other day telling me they wanted to change schools. Loved that one. Kayte got into trouble with some girl who wanted to kick her butt and she thinks the only thing she can do now is run and go to a different school to avoid her wrath.

When I asked for details, it wasn't only this one girl... Kayte has more than this one girl to deal with... there are lots of other girls at her school that she's having problems with. Remember that one website she was being the 'reporter' for? The one where she was spreading rumors about people that I told her was going to come back and bite her in the butt? Yeah... that came back and bit her.

Additionally.... she is so nice and sweet that she comes off as a flirt. And it's getting her into trouble as well. Now... you HAVE to know Kayte to know that she really IS just sweet as pie and NOT a flirt. But it's being misunderstood by a LOT of people. Well, by everyone. Then, she slips into attorney mode for herself, and that isn't working so well either.

She's in a world of mess.... and doesn't know how to get out of it. I told her.... if EVERYONE around you is telling you that they do not like the way you are acting and things you are doing.... maybe you should honestly re-evaluate the way you are acting and things you are doing. She - however - feels there is nothing wrong with the way she is acting or what she is doing. In attorney mode she defends herself just fine.

So she fights it alone.

Sigh.

****************************

So, my sister Katie was almost arrested for Shoplifting. Yeah... did you almost just fall out of your chair? Me too.


Oh my God, too funny, huh?

Katie doesn't have a bad bone in her body. She wouldn't steal anything. Her daughter once put on lip-gloss in a store then put it back on the rack... Katie bought it. She is a manager of a bank. She has NEVER cursed. Ever. Can you even fathom that?

And Sweetbay thinks she purposely tried to steal something??

Here is what happened... Katie runs into Sweetbay with the two kids - a 4-year old in the back of the cart and a 6-week old in a baby carrier in the back of the cart as well with the front part collapsed. As Katie grabs food for the night she gives it to Tatiana who places it around the baby. As they check out, Tatiana places the food on the conveyor belt and Katie pays.

When they leave, just as they exit the building they are approached by two people who claim to be from the "Loss Prevention Department". They show no identification, they do not give their names, and they treat Katie like a criminal from the very beginning. The man in particular was condescending and mean to Katie throughout the ordeal.

When they told Katie they 'saw' her take something, she said she did NOT. They then produced a $4 bottle from under the baby carrier. Katie explained she was a manager of a bank and surely it was a mistake. She explained about the babies, the groceries, how it must have just gotten stuck under the carrier, she offered to go inside immediately and pay - but they would not hear any of it. They were only interested in calling the police. Katie was dumbfounded. For a $4 bottle? Are you kidding me? Katie asked to speak with the Sweetbay manager, they refused to do so. The whole thing was incredible.

Long story short, the police were called, Katie had to call her husband and Katie was issued a trespassing warning for that Sweetbay - she can no longer shop there. The funniest thing that happened was - after the long ordeal - groceries warm from being in the parking lot for over an hour throughout the ordeal - her husband took them inside and demanded a refund for them - telling him that he would take his business to a grocery store who treated their customers better. Good for you, Tony!

Poor Katie.

She's going to be mortified that I put this in the blog. But... you have to know Katie to know how incredibly WRONG it is that this happened to her. Of all people. It would be like the Pope being accused of stealing a Star magazine. Come on! No way!

Katie came over to the house last night and together with the help of mom, Michelle and myself we typed up a letter which she is going to send to the President of Sweetbay (and probably a few others in management) and demand an apology for the way she was treated.

****************************

So..... can someone please tell me at what age and at what point I will be able to stop worrying about my daughter? I mean... she's 21. She's married. She's on her own. She's working.

I know the answer to that question already. I know I will always worry about her. I know that I she has to help herself. I know that she has to work through her own problems. I know that I can offer suggestions, and she can do whatever she wants to with those suggestions and it's okay. I know all this........ I know.

And still...... it sucks.

She struggles.

She hurts.

She lives in crisis mode. 911 mode.

She cries all the time. She thinks things couldn't get much worse. And then they do.

She lives in 'the glass is half empty' kind of thinking all the time.

She doesn't believe in Jesus... she thinks there is a God I think... although, I don't really know what she really 'believes' to be honest with you. She's searching. Just as we were at her age.

She doesn't know which way to turn.

She doesn't know which decision is the right one.

And my heart breaks for her.

Sigh..............

That's all I can muster for this blog today. That last part just sucked the life right out of me. I've got to go and re-focus for tonight's singing. It's a big weekend. Here is a song we are doing tonight and tomorrow. The words are very powerful.....

Almighty God, the great I am
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings
Mighty conqueror, and the only time
the only time I ever saw Him run

Was when He ran to me,
He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said,“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran

The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
Then one night I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road ahead I could see
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run

And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said,“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise as He brought me to my knees
When God ran – I saw Him run to me

I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day

I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again
He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”,
He called me Son He said, “Son do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me and then I ran to Him
When God ran